Conference Pac-12 Conference Coaches No. - CFP No. - | Division South Division AP No. - | |
Head coach Rich Rodriguez (6th year) | ||
The 2017 Arizona Wildcats football team represents the University of Arizona in the 2017 season. The season is the Wildcats's 118th overall, 40th as a member of the Pac-12 Conference, and its seventh within the Pac-12 South Division. The team plays their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.
Contents
- Previous season and offseason
- Departures
- Recruiting Class of 2017
- Early enrollees
- 2017 National Signing Day
- Incoming Transfers
- Spring game
- Fall practice
- Pac 12 Media Days
- Returning starters
- Roster and coaching staff
- Depth chart
- Schedule
- Media Affiliates
- Week 1 vs Northern Arizona
- Week 2 vs Houston
- Week 3 at UTEP
- Week 4 vs Utah
- Week 6 at Colorado
- Week 7 vs UCLA Family Weekend
- Week 8 at California
- Week 9 vs Washington State Homecoming Weekend
- Week 10 at USC
- Week 11 vs Oregon State Senior Day
- Week 12 at Oregon
- Week 13 at Arizona State Territorial Cup
- Rankings
- Team
- Awards and Honors
- NFL Draft
- NFL Draft Combine
- References
Previous season and offseason
After starting the season 2–1 (the sole victory coming against FCS Grambling State and Hawaii, then lose to BYU). Under Rodriguez, extending back to the 2012 season, the Wildcats had lost 8 consecutive games to FBS opponents, their last victory coming nearly a year earlier on September 17, 2016, against Hawaii, leading the team to a record of 3–9 (1–8 Pac-12) on the season.
Departures
The Wildcats would lose twenty-one senior football players to graduation. The Wildcats would lose four more players from the 2016 team due to various reasons (transfers and withdrawals will be filled out once spring practice occurs). Notable departures from the 2016 squad included.
Recruiting Class of 2017
The Wildcats signed 34 players including 14 HS walk-on players, 18 high school recruits and no transfers from other colleges. None of the transfers were from NCAA Division I (FBS) programs. Five of the recruits were already enrolled for the spring, 2017 semester while 24 signed letters of intent on National Signing Day is February 3, 2017. Arizona is combined to be a unanimous top-25 class, ranked as high as (#21 by Scout, #15 by Rivals, #26 by ESPN, and #23 by 247) and finish top-5 in the Pac-12 recruitment class (#4 by 247, #4 by Scout, #4 by ESPN, and #4 by Rivals).
Early enrollees
None recruits transferring from other programs enrolled for Spring, 2017 semester courses at Arizona. The five players are 4-star running back Nathan Tilford from Colony HS, Jose Ramirez from Auburndale HS, 3-star tight end Bryce Gilbert from Higley HS and 3-star linebacker Tony Fields from Desert Pines HS and 3-star defensive tackle Sione Taufahema from College of the Canyons. The list includes ratings when originally recruited from high school.
Source:
2017 National Signing Day
Arizona signed 34 players on national letter of intent day. Recruits are listed in the "2017 Recruits" table below. Player profiles for each recruit are available at the signing day link below. The 2017 signing day recruits included 18 players from high school, 14 walk-on players from high school and 0 transfers.
Source:
Incoming Transfers
In addition to the 2017 recruiting class, Arizona did not add any transfers, which includes none eligible for the current season, to the 2017 roster:
Source:
Spring game
The 2017 Wildcats had spring practice from February 2017 to March 2017. The 2017 Arizona football spring game will take place in Tucson, AZ at a date and time to be determined.
Fall practice
Fall camp is scheduled for August.
Pac-12 Media Days
Pac-12 media days are set for July 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Returning starters
Arizona returns 30 starters in 2017, including 14 on offense, 9 on defense, and 7 on special teams.
Key departures include Justin Davis (TB – 6 games), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – 13 games), Darreus Rogers (WR – 13 games), De'Quan Hampton (WR), Isaac Whitney (WR), Taylor McNamara (TE – 11 games), Zach Banner (OT – 11 games), Chad Wheeler (OT – 11 games), Damien Mama (OL – 12 games), Jordan Simmons (OL – 2 games), Stevie Tu'ikolovatu (DT – 12 games), Quinton Powell (LB), Michael Hutchings (ILB – 13 games), Leon McQuay III (S – 12 games), Zach Smith (LS – 13 games).
Transfers : Anu Solomon (QB – 5 games – Baylor, John Kenny (LB) - N/A - TBA & Cody Ippolito (LB – 4 games – Utah).
Projecting Returning Starters 2017
† Indicates player was a starter in 2016 but missed all of 2017 due to injury.
Roster and coaching staff
*2017 Arizona Football Commits (01/03/2017)Depth chart
Projecting Depth Chart 2017
True Freshman
Double Position : *
Schedule
Arizona announced its 2017 football schedule in November 29, 2016. The 2017 schedule consists of 7 home and 4 away games for the regular season.
The Wildcats will host nine Pac-12 foes UCLA, Utah, Oregon State and Washington State, and will travel to California, Colorado, Oregon, USC and Arizona State (91st Territorial Cup). Arizona is not scheduled to play Pac-12 North opponents Stanford and Washington in the 2017 regular season.
The Wildcats will host two of its three non–conference games which are against Northern Arizona from the Big Sky and Houston from the The American and travel to El Paso, TX against Texas–El Paso from the C-USA.
Schedule SourceMedia Affiliates
Radio
TV
Week 1 (vs Northern Arizona)
To open up the 2017 season, Arizona will host its in-state rival, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks for the non conference home opener in Tucson since 2015. Arizona lead the all-time series with 13–1.
Statistics
Week 2 (vs Houston)
After playing Northern Arizona, Arizona will host the Houston Cougars for the second non conference game in Tucson. This will be the first meeting between the schools since 1986. Arizona tied the all-time series with 1–1 apiece.
Statistics
Week 3 (at UTEP)
After playing Houston, Arizona will travel to El Paso, TX hosts the UTEP Miners for third and final non conference game of the season. This will be the first meeting between the schools since 2003. Arizona lead the all-time series with 38–11–2.
Statistics
Week 4 (vs Utah)
Following its game against UTEP on the road, Arizona will begin its 2017 Pac-12 conference schedule in Tucson, AZ, Arizona to face the Utah Utes for the first Pac-12 south division game of the season. Arizona trailed the all-time series by Utah, 19–21–2.
Statistics
Week 6 (at Colorado)
After facing Utah and having a bye week, Arizona will host Colorado Buffaloes on the road to Boulder, CO. Arizona trailed the all-time series by Colorado 4–14.
Statistics
Week 7 (vs UCLA - Family Weekend)
After its game against Colorado on the road, Arizona will face UCLA in Arizona's family weekend game in Tucson, AZ. Washington State defeated Arizona in the previous meeting 24–45 in Pasadena, CA. Arizona trailed the all-time series by UCLA 24–15–2.
Statistics
Week 8 (at California)
After its game against UCLA, Arizona will face California in Berkeley, CA for the first non Pac-12 division game of the season. Arizona has the lead all-time series 16–14–2.
Statistics
Week 9 (vs Washington State - Homecoming Weekend)
After its game against California on the road, Arizona will face Washington State in Arizona's homecoming game. Washington State defeated Arizona in the previous meeting 7–69 in Pullman, WA. Arizona has the lead all-time series 26–16.
Statistics
Week 10 (at USC)
After hosting Washington State, Arizona will travel to Los Angeles, CA to face the USC Trojans. Arizona trailed the all-time series by USC 32–8.
Statistics
Week 11 (vs Oregon State - Senior Day)
Following its game against USC on the road, Arizona will play its final home game of the season against Oregon State in Tucson, AZ. Arizona has the lead all-time series with 22–15–1.
Statistics
Week 12 (at Oregon)
Following its home game finale against Oregon State, Arizona will play its road game against Oregon. Oregon defeated the Wildcats in a top 10 showdown during the prior meeting at 2014 Pac-12 Championship (rematch from 31–24 at Eugene, OR on Oct. 2nd, 2014), losing 14–51. Arizona trailed the all-time series by Oregon, 26–15.
Statistics
Week 13 (at Arizona State – Territorial Cup)
Following its road finale against Oregon, Arizona will close out the 2017 season facing its arch-rivals, the Arizona State Sun Devils, in the 91st meeting of "Territorial Cup" in Tempe, AZ since 2016 season. Arizona leads the all-time series 49–40–1.
Statistics
Rankings
*Source: ESPN.com: 2017 NCAA Football Rankings
Other preseason rankings for Arizona include:
Team
As of 1/4/2017.
Awards and Honors
*The NCAA and Arizona only recognize the AP, AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News and WCFF All-American teams to determine if a player is a Consensus or Unanimous All-American. To be named a Consensus All-American, a player must be named first team in three polls and to be Unanimous, they must be named first team in all five.
NFL Draft
The following members of 2017 Arizona Wildcats football team were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.
NFL Draft Combine
† Top performer